Three-Minute Digest
Magnate allays fears over Iskandar building glut
CONCERNS about a looming housing glut and slipping asset values in Malaysia's Iskandar development region may be overdone - if one believes what the boss of Iskandar Waterfront Holdings, the master developer of Danga Bay where many Chinese developers have homed in, has to say.
COE quotas to fall 6% from August
THE number of certificates of entitlement will contract by 6 per cent from next month for the next three months. The quota for August to October will be 11,331, or 729 pieces fewer than in the current May-to-July quota period.
SMEs slightly more optimistic about H2 growth
SMALL and medium-sized enterprises here are slightly more positive about their growth in the next six months. But on the whole, business sentiment is still not strong due to manpower curbs, business leaders said.
Hospital bed crunch a cumulative problem
AS Singapore moves to adopt universal healthcare through MediShield Life, observers say the government needs to review its long-term care financing structure and explore community-based alternatives in view of the hospital bed crunch here.
Kuala Lumpur warned against interfering in Petronas
VETERAN Malaysian journalist Abdul Kadir Jasin yesterday warned the government against interfering in the financial affairs of Petronas, following the national oil firm's promotion up the ranks of the Fortune 500 list.
Sabana Reit's Q2 distribution per unit lower at 1.86 cents
SABANA Reit yesterday posted a distribution per unit of 1.86 cents for its second quarter ended June 30 - down 22.5 per cent from a year ago. The three months saw income available for distribution fall 16.6 per cent to $13 million.
Olam's 5-year $400m bonds snapped up
OLAM International's five-year $400 million bond issue received strong demand from private bank clients, said DBS Bank. The issue, the first after Olam became a Temasek Holdings subsidiary, received orders exceeding $1.7 billion.
Get an Easy Taxi via the WeChat app
COMPETITION in the taxi booking market here moved up another notch with Easy Taxi announcing that it has partnered WeChat to let users book taxis directly via the messaging app.
Bankers woo Maybank with M&A ideas
INVESTMENT banks are rushing to court Malayan Banking Bhd with a range of M&A ideas, convinced that arch-rival CIMB Group's plan to acquire two lenders will push Malaysia's top bank to do a deal of its own.
Canberra keeps Qantas in Aussie hands
THE Australian government yesterday abandoned plans to allow struggling national carrier Qantas to be majority overseas-owned but agreed to a compromise that will see foreign investment restrictions eased.
Spring Grove up for en bloc sale at $1.39b
SPRING Grove condominium in the prime Grange Road area has officially been launched for sale by tender and expects offers of more than $1.39 billion. If it goes through, this would beat Farrer Court's record $1.14 billion en bloc sale in 2007.
